Eric Weems Pushing Hard For A Roster Spot

by Dave Choate on Aug 19, 2009 8:00 AM EDT in Falcons News

You may have noticed a trend around here. With the starters locked in at many offensive positions, some of the most interesting battles are occurring lower on the depth chart, so that is where my baleful eye has fallen. Today, I thought we'd examine a guy who I've mostly dismissed as a factor for a wide receiver roster spot, but can do so no longer.

I refer, of course, to one Eric Weems.

A little background. Weems has been with the Falcons in some capacity the last two years, exclusively as a practice squadder in 2007, and offers some clear value on special teams. He might be doomed to the cut list this season if not for the crushing injury to Harry Douglas, but with him gone the agile Weems is making a real push to assume punt return duties and perhaps more:

"I've been taking advantage of my opportunity because if one guy goes down, another guy has to step up," Weems said. "I've been trying to work hard every day catching punts before and after practice."

Glaring spelling errors in that article aside, "Weeks" looked pretty good in the first pre-season game. It doesn't hurt that he's actually relatively sure-handed for a guy you'd be carrying as a fifth or sixth receiver at best, and if given the opportunity to make the roster he'll likely only have unproven players and average veterans in front of him. This is Weems' one and perhaps only chance to captialize on this, so it's little surprise to see him working his tail off.

His primary competition for a return job and roster spot would seem to be Chandler Williams, who was solid in his own right and like Weems is trying to prove his worth on special teams. The deciding factor here could be what the two offer as a wide receiver, and if it comes down to that, I do believe Weems offers more value.

Where do you stand on Weems, Chandler Williams and the roster spot battle of aught-nine?

Poll

Who has a better chance of making this roster?

Eric Weems

131 votes

Chandler Williams

17 votes

Someone signed at the last second

18 votes

tlozwarlock

19 votes

185 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I vote for tlozwarlock

for his ability to block, catch, and blog, all at the same time.

In Dimitroff we trust

by Bonhoffer on Aug 19, 2009 8:13 AM EDT reply actions

I would vote for myself, but that'd be a conflict of interest.

Weems has the edge on Chandler if only because Weems has shown better play in the flat, catching pretty much everything thrown his way by any of the QBs. Chandler dropped a few zingers but still seemed pretty solid on returns. We’ll have to wait and see.

You have opinions. Share them.

by Adam Schultz on Aug 19, 2009 8:25 AM EDT reply actions

So our WR depth chart would be:

Roddy White
Michael Jenkins
Brian Finneran
Robert Ferguson
Marty Booker
Aaron Kelly
Eric Weems
Chandler Williams

We can’t keep 8 so who is the most likely to get cut if Weems does win a roster spot?

by FLA_Falcon on Aug 19, 2009 8:47 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I'd guess

1. Roddy
2. Jenkins
3. Finn
4. veteran – either Ferguson OR Booker
5. return guy – either Weems OR Williams
and if they carry #6: one of the other guys from the list…

by orang3b on Aug 19, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Rec'd

Although it’s possible that Ferguson or Booker will be ahead of Finn, but I think only one of them makes the final roster, and I’m leaning towards Ferguson at the moment. If they carry six, I could see Booker sticking around.

I think Weems currently has the lead on the return spot, but we still have 3 more “tryouts” to go.

My guess is that Williams and/or Kelly are destined for the practice squad. I’d like to see Kelly continue to grow and maybe he makes the roster next year or the following year. I think he has potential, but most think he needs to bulk up a little bit on that lanky frame.

by TomQ on Aug 19, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh,

And what about Bergeron? He looks promising in some ways, but I’m not sure where he fits in…

by TomQ on Aug 19, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Good call

I was just wondering if he was still on the roster, I’m not sure why but I don’t feel like he has a chance to make the team.

by FLA_Falcon on Aug 19, 2009 12:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Well,

I think both Bergeron and Kelly only came into the Detroit game in the 4th quarter (maybe late 3rd), so that’s not exactly a good sign for the two of them making the final roster. Unless one or both come in earlier in the STL game Friday, they’ll probably be on the cut list (I think Kelly would have a good shot to make the practice squad, though).

by orang3b on Aug 19, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Vets

I could see the Birds keeping one or the other in the case of Robert Ferguson and Marty Booker. Fergy’s skill set lends more to blocking and special teams (where has excelled during he career) and I could see them keeping him and cutting Book.

That way they could place Williams on the Practice squad and maybe Kelly as well leaving us with -

Roddy
Jenks
B. Finn
Ferguson
Weems

"There were far too many penalties on both sides of the football," said Coach Smith. "Some things that we'll have to address and I can assure you we will."

by Pregame with Pabst on Aug 19, 2009 8:58 AM EDT reply actions

i’ve been reading this blog for awhile now but just decided to join. i’ll have to give it to eric weems though cause he is the one with nfl experience even if it was only the last couple games of last year but we wouldn’t keep bringing him back if he didn’t bring something to the table. Right?

by ATL Forever on Aug 19, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

Welcome to the site!

by Dave Choate on Aug 19, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Go Jackets

I remember Weems throwing a key block on the end around that HD scored his sole rushing TD on last year.

"There were far too many penalties on both sides of the football," said Coach Smith. "Some things that we'll have to address and I can assure you we will."

by Pregame with Pabst on Aug 19, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Weems for sure

And ATL, if you didn’t know already, GT has a SBN site here. Come join us!

"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."-----Cormican on Bleeding Green Nation w/r/t fans overreacting to the Eagles signing of Michael Vick

by Jesse28 on Aug 19, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Why??

lol, j/k. It’s a very good blog, great writers…

I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I only lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.

Elayne Boosler

by NaGaNole on Aug 19, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions